Al Davis and the Raiders

Al Davis and the Raiders

Al Davis, the controversial longtime owner of the Oakland Raiders, started as the team's head coach and general manager and rose to become its principal owner. Davis transformed the failing team into a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most successful franchises in professional football only to preside over its dramatic decline in recent years. He is perhaps best remembered in Los Angeles as the sweatsuit-clad rebel with slicked-back hair and a secretive nature who successfully sued to relocate his team from Oakland to L.A. in 1982, then moved it back to Oakland in 1995. Above, Davis, lower right, in 1982 gathers with members of the Coliseum Commission, who voted to allow the Raiders to come to Los Angeles. He died at 82. Full obituaryNotable sports deaths of 2011

Al Davis, the controversial longtime owner of the Oakland Raiders, started as the team's head coach and general manager and rose to become its principal owner. Davis transformed the failing team into a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most successful franchises in professional football only to preside over its dramatic decline in recent years. He is perhaps best remembered in Los Angeles as the sweatsuit-clad rebel with slicked-back hair and a secretive nature who successfully sued to relocate his team from Oakland to L.A. in 1982, then moved it back to Oakland in 1995. Above, Davis, lower right, in 1982 gathers with members of the Coliseum Commission, who voted to allow the Raiders to come to Los Angeles. He died at 82. Full obituaryNotable sports deaths of 2011

Al Davis, the controversial longtime owner of the Oakland Raiders, started as the team's head coach and general manager and rose to become its principal owner. Davis transformed the failing team into a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most successful franchises in professional football only to preside over its dramatic decline in recent years. He is perhaps best remembered in Los Angeles as the sweatsuit-clad rebel with slicked-back hair and a secretive nature who successfully sued to relocate his team from Oakland to L.A. in 1982, then moved it back to Oakland in 1995. Above, Davis, lower right, in 1982 gathers with members of the Coliseum Commission, who voted to allow the Raiders to come to Los Angeles. He died at 82. Full obituaryNotable sports deaths of 2011